The Gifts We Bring

As we enter into the third week of Advent and approach Christmas Day my thoughts continually turn to the idea of, just what is the true meaning of Christmas. As Christians we know that Christmas is about the birth of the Christ child, but the meaning and story of Christmas didn't stop there on that Holy night when the Word was made incarnate and we received the gift of Emmanuel, God with us. I was thinking recently too about the three kings who came in search of the Christ child and wrote the following for our church's parish paper.

The Gifts We Bring

The story of the Three Kings who make their way from the East in search of the Christ Child has always been one that has inspired a feeling of great awe.  The picture of three Kings dressed in fine clothing, gleaming crowns, and sparkling jewels riding across the desert a top camels must have been a sight to behold. All who witnessed this pilgrimage must have known that these three regal men were on a journey of great importance. I wonder if the common man of the time, however, could have even imagined that these three kings were in fact on a journey to a place that at first glance would not have qualified it as important much less worthy of  its regal visitors.

 A second name we hear given to these kings is that of “Wise Men.”  The term “Wise Men” never fully registered to me as to the why these three kings were in fact said to be wise. After all, wouldn’t just being a king render one to also be wise?  On pondering the journey that these three kings made to visit the child born to be King of the Jews, it occurred to me that these men were on a journey of faith. They had seen a great light and knew of the child born to be King; however, the three kings were completely unaware that the child they sought was one who was born in a humble manger and one who did not come from great wealth or importance. In preparation for their journey to visit the new King, I imagine that the three men had packed all of their finest clothing and jewels and brought gifts fit for the most worthy of all kings. What they did not anticipate, was that the true gift they were bringing to the new born Christ Child was that of themselves.

  As Epiphany draws near and we visit the story of the Three Wise Men on their journey of faith to visit the Christ child, we recall too that we are on our own journey of faith. The three kings were deemed “wise” through their actions of seeking, finding and worshiping the Christ Child despite their knowledge of any conventions of what deemed one worthy to be called king. Their acts of faith and humbleness in acknowledging Jesus as King were the greatest gifts brought to the Christ Child. As we prepare our hearts on our own faith journeys, we know that like the three wise men it is our gift of self that is given in faith that is the greatest gift we can give to Christ Jesus.

In this final week of  before Christmas I know that  my hope is in Christ Jesus. As I prepare my heart for the true meaning of Christmas,  it is with much joy and love that I receive him on Christmas Day  and always with the gift of my whole self.